284 Hounds 



selves belonging to adjacent walkers are not slow 

 to take advantage of the association thus afforded. 

 This statement clearly shows how distemper may be 

 spread from its point of origin to other and distant 

 centres. The wide distribution and isolation of 

 trencher-fed hounds constitutes the most rational 

 system that can be followed, and the author strongly 

 recommends its adoption by all M.F.H.'s. Another 

 precautionary measure worthy of note is, never 

 send a puppy on to premises where a previous 

 hound has had distemper, as infective material is 

 capable of hanging about such premises for a variable, 

 though we will not say indefinite, period. If timely 

 precaution is adopted the losses amongst fox and 

 other hounds can be greatly diminished. First of 

 all, owners of hounds may hke to know what dis- 

 temper really is, as it is surprising the remarkable 

 ignorance that prevails amongst many people as to 

 the nature of this trouble. Although definitions 

 are seldom much use it may help the reader if a con- 

 cise definition be given, which is that : 



Distemper is an infective febrile disease, insidious 

 in its onset, having an incubative period of not more 

 than eight days : variable in its manifestations, dura- 

 tion, severity of attack and termination. It is char- 

 acterized by dullness, loss of appetite, a discharge from 

 the eyes and nose, rise of internal temperature, a hard 

 cough, together with a tendency towards lung, bowel^ 



